Why Prune?

Have you ever looked at a landscape and thought, "It's butchered" or "It's ruined from over trimming!"

This time of year, extra pruning may be done in order to promote more plant growth before spring time comes. Pruning by definition is "the removal or reduction of certain plant parts that are not required, that are no longer effective, or that are of no use to the plant." Pruning is done to supply additional energy for the development of flowers, fruits, and limbs that remain on the plant.

Other reasons for pruning include:

1. to train the plant

2. to maintain plant health

3. to improve the quality of flowers, fruit, foliage or stems

4. to restrict growth

Though pruning might not be pleasing to the eye right away, looking at the bigger picture of WHY the pruning is taking place is important.